Notebooks and Notetaking

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H is for… Hobonichi Techno

The Hobonichi Techois a popular Japanese brand notebook/daily planner manufactured by Hobo Nikkan Itoi Shinbun (Hobonichi).The planner’s pages feature a 4mm lined grid to maximize customization and is printed on Tomoe River (Tomoegawa) paper, a very thin and high quality paper. It is resistant to bleeding and feathering of inks and paints, especially fountain pen inks and watercolors, though alcohol-based pens will bleed through. The book is structured with a yearly overview section, monthly pages, various informational pages in the back, and most importantly, one full page dedicated to each day. Daily pages display the current moon phase, the day/week of the year, and short quotations from a variety of sources. The planner may be used in an optional cover with several useful features like card pockets, bookmarks, and a pen holder which doubles as a clasp. Covers are offered in a variety of materials and are sold in a different set of designs every year. The planner and covers are available in two sizes, the A6 ‘Original’, and the larger A5 ‘Cousin’.

In 2012, Hobonichi collaborated with designer brand ARTS&SCIENCE to release an English-language version of the planner for the first time. The English planner is available only in A6 size, differentiated by a black cover with gold stamped Japanese characters for planner, “手帳” (Techō), and the ARTS&SCIENCE logo, as opposed to the cream cover of the Japanese version.

I’m thoroughly enjoying your A to Z this month – stationery is right up my alley and I’m learning of some new brands that I wasn’t aware of before. I’m not sure i need a Hobonichi, especially since I just got a Midori Travelers Notebook, but it’s certainly a nice system.

Yes. It is such a great idea. I wish more brands/companies would do it. Even at the most basic level. They have now caught up with including mobile and email … but for some in particular it took them long enough haha. 🙂